Diamond_Jim

lots of showers on the Adelaide city radar. Dogs could be in with a chance

And this weekend plus a few weeks later against Dogs and Pies is what we need to change. The margin against St Kilda flattered us but equally we should have beaten the Suns by 100 plus. Time to get arrogant in a Hawthorn way.

yes please

mmmm see he is a restricted free agent which makes life more difficult. Would hate to trade one of the crown jewels for him.

So .. I assume it's trade Tyson for a draft pick thus freeing up some of the salary needed to pay Gaff? If we can do that and keep everyone happy... I like it. Don't like that horrible word "window" but we are definitely entering that "window phase."

Worries me as well. One would expect a bump this year even if it was only 1-2%. Carlton are perhaps vulnerable as one of the power clubs. Next season is the time if we can to pass them and claim the revenues and TV exposure that goes with it.

no .. just the opposite ... they are a potential wooden spooner... was commenting upon the various posts that were suggesting we are now such a good team.

boy .. I love the optimism and expect to beat Carlton by at least 40 points but... in the 3 big tests so far this season we lost and in two lost badly. Get back to me after the AAA game (Adelaide Annihilation in Alice) .

As we move further into the season and the ladder is taking some shape it's time to look at the games from an MFC positioning viewpoint. From my perspective I have given up on top 4 which probably means we should barrack for the top 4 to run away from the rest. Tonight's game in Adelaide is a good example. Adelaide is equal on games won to MFC and Bulldogs are one behind. Would be good to get a little breathing space on the Bulldogs and increase the margin in a couple of weeks. A Saints win against the Pies would probably be a happy result as well.

Yep.. they are looking for a new guinea pig. It requires the nominee to give up a home game so I can't see Carlton agreeing. Of the Melbourne clubs the Saints are a high possibility and if no one steps up the AFL will pressure GWS into going. My understanding is that the game loses a few million which is paid by the AFL. There was also a significant investment in the stadium itself to bring the ground and surrounds up to a basic level. No wonder some of the clubs are screaming for a proper business case.

good point PD. Today's reading in Shanghai is 112. Over 100 WHO says it is considered unhealthy and strenuous exertion is advised against. In my experience at 100 one can see about 400 metres at best. ( Did 250 in Delhi earlier this year where they have 500 on occasions and that was not great but okay for walking around.) http://aqicn.org/city/shanghai/ By comparison the readings in say Melbourne and New York for today are 25 and 19 respectively

Tigers injury list very light as usual http://www.afl.com.au/news/injury-list Rioli plays VFL this weekend

You are right in the sense of crowds but over the last 40 years there have been two things that have driven the revenue growth of the AFL comp. One is corporate money... started with Dick Pratt at Carlton in the '80's. (Boy is that a story but the corporate world and sport came together as if they were both on steroids.) Then we had pay Tv and the explosion on the cost of the rights that the AFL had to sell. Fast forward to now and the two still hold true (in their infancy) for China. Initially it's a corporate play. Big business in Australia entertain one of the biggest growing markets in the world. The TV play is much harder but not impossible. EPL works well because their early game fits the Chinese time zone. Similarly a 7pm kick off in Perth works well. Strangest thing is that crowds are the least of the equation... (unfortunately). Of course many businesses around the world have pumped really big money into cracking the China market and have failed. The most recent example is Uber and there are a lot of skeletons. (In the banking world most if not all of the banks have had a go in Asia and failed.)

Injury to Weideman is not good. This weekend was another chance to show what he could do. Either Pedersen or Garlett in his place. The naming of Hunt is interesting as it makes no sense given the rest of the bench ... unless fritsch is being rested. Tyson on the bench seems to have answered the question of who goes out for Viney .* Spargo.. who knows but perhaps both Pedersen and Garlett make the team. Any other combinations I have missed. These five man benches make a mockery of selections. * Just noticed ANB is on the bench as well.. so who knows

"The top field umpires made as much as $150,000 in 2016, while similarly proficient boundary and goal umpires collected upwards of $50,000." https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-considering-employing-at-least-two-fulltime-umpires-for-2017-season/news-story/347b2a2958129e9e5a56c4a9064e1c28?nk=34fd14988ab099a0a18aab69e413ab5d-1526540838

to CAS perhaps ... they all did so well last time !!

only player to win the reserves b&f medal (competition wide) twice if I recall.

Finding will probably be along the lines that while we might have come to a different decision the decision of the tribunal was open to it at the time. That way the original tribunal bear the scorn and the warning is sent that you may not be so lucky next time. Can't wait to see if we have the famous "links in the chain argument"

Very interested in your feedback Proper Dee together with any colour pieces about Shanghai. Does the average Chinese even know Australia exists. As many would know most Americans have no idea about us. I spend a lot of time in Malaysia where Oz is well known mainly due to the number of Malaysian students we have had in the country. At least in India everyone knows the Australian cricket team. I find it amazing that many know a lot more about our team than I do and I'm a reasonable cricket follower.

You heard it here guys... the biggest TV audience ever !!! "The AFL expects that the Gold Coast v Port Adelaide game in Shanghai will be the most-watched game in VFL/AFL history due to the improved broadcasting arrangement in China. The AFL’s general manager for China and India, David Stevenson, said this weekend’s game ‘‘will be the most-watched game in AFL history’’ because it will be broadcast in three major centres on free to air." Rather ironic that it's behind the paywall in Oz so few will watch it here. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/china-game-tipped-to-be-most-watched-match-in-afl-history-20180516-p4zfqn.html On a separate note they are looking for a new guinea pig to give up their home game: "But the future of the China game is unclear, despite Port Adelaide’s commitment to the project, because the Gold Coast might not continue to give up a home game. The AFL commission has approved of the Shanghai game continuing ‘‘for the forseeable future’’, as Stevenson said, but the AFL and the Power need to find a partner club for it to continue. Should the Suns quit the game, the AFL preference would be for it to be replaced by a club based in either Melbourne or Sydney, given that more than 70 per cent of Australia’s huge ethnic Chinese population live in the two major cities." GWS probably

Do they still have that dancing show ??... I see some possibilties

Just got an email from MFC about finals ticket packages. I see they start at $1300. Anybody got some more details on the prices and packages Might be interested if we win the next three

Interesting Saty the real question is whether Hunt's form even when he had it fits the game plan. Stretch is often amongst our best at VFL level but just cannot turn it on at AFL level. Wagner... depth Bugg... if only he could kick straight he would be best 18 (not just 22) Garlett... he'll get another chance soon... he needs to make use of it.

If speed is his only weapon and in the main that is straight line speed he will have difficulty when there are 36 players in about one sixth of the field. He has to reinvent himself... he's young enough and has the basic skills. Perhaps give him some midfield time at VFL level to start finding the ball again. Unfortunately I can see him slipping slowly out of sight but I very much hope not. Same with Billy Stretch.

It will always be 31 (tbh we should retire that number as it carries such enormous expectations). Perhaps we will when RDB leaves this mortal world. (But hell let's do it during his lifetime!)